Requirements for admission and Term of Arbitrators

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION AND TERM OF ARBITRATORS OF THE VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE

(Pursuant to Article 2 of the Rules on Admission and Termination of Arbitrators of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre, issued under Decision No. 223/QĐ-VIAC dated December 10, 2025 of the President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre)

Article 2. Requirements for admission of Arbitrators

1. Requirements for admission:

a. Be aged between 35 and 65 years; and,

b. Hold a bachelor’s degree from a domestic or foreign institution in the relevant specialized field and possess at least ten (10) years of experience in that field; or be a member (or higher) of an International Arbitration Association, a credible arbitration centre, or an equivalent organization[1], with at least one (01) year of membership (or higher) and at least ten (10) years of overall professional experience; or hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree from a domestic or foreign institution in a field related to international arbitration and have at least ten (10) years of professional experience; and,

c. Be proficient in English or another foreign language sufficient to effectively resolve disputes in accordance with international arbitration proceedings; and,

d. Have been seated as an Arbitrator in at least 05 international or domestic arbitration cases and have participated in the drafting of at least 03 arbitral awards.

2. Preferential criteria for admission:

a. Have authored at least 03 (three) academic works, including scholarly articles published in reputable domestic or international journals, monographs, or reference books published by reputable domestic or international publishers, as listed by the State Council for Professorship or the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) at the time of consideration for admission;

b. Possess a letter of recommendation from the national professional association, agency, or organization where the candidate is employed, clearly confirming the candidate’s reputation, ethics, and professional competence, and affirming its support for the candidate’s admission as an Arbitrator at VIAC.

3. Where a candidate does not fully satisfy one of the requirements specified in Paragraph 1 of this Article but is a highly reputable expert in a particular specialized field, or has participated in the resolution of at least 07 (seven) cases as an Arbitrator, or has achieved outstanding accomplishments in research or professional practice, etc., the candidate may, nevertheless, be considered for admission by the Board of Director of VIAC.

4. Satisfaction of the requirements set out in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article does not automatically entitle a candidate to admission to the VIAC’s List of Arbitrators. The admission of candidates falls within the discretion of the Board of Directors, taking into account the operational needs of VIAC’s dispute resolution activities from time to time.

Article 3. Term of Arbitrator

1. The term of membership of an Arbitrator on the Lists shall be five (05) years, commencing from the date on which the Arbitrator is admitted to the List.

2. At least one (01) month prior to the expiry of the term of an Arbitrator, the Board of Directors shall consider and decide whether to extend for a further term based on the following criteria:

a. Reports from the Secretariat and other relevant departments of VIAC regarding the Arbitrator’s performance during the preceding term, including compliance with the Arbitration Rules, Code of Ethics for an Arbitrator, and applicable regulations, guidelines, and policies of the Centre;

b. The demand, from time to time, for candidates for appointment as arbitrators for the Centre’s dispute resolution activities;

c. The Arbitrator’s cooperation in the implementation of the Centre’s activities and the Arbitrator’s contributions during the preceding term.

The decision of Board of Directors not to extend an Arbitrator’s term need not state reasons.

3. The extension or non-extension of an Arbitrator’s term shall be notified in writing by the Secretary General to the Arbitrator prior to the expiry date of the current term.

Article 4. Commitments of Candidates

By submitting the application for inclusion on the Lists, the Candidate acknowledges and undertakes to comply with the following:

1. Not be subject to any internal restrictions imposed by any agency, organization, association, or professional institution with which the candidate is employed or of which the candidate is a member that would prevent participation on the Lists; and ensure that the admission to the List must not give rise to any conflict of interest or constitute a breach of any non-competition obligations or agreements.

2. Not be a capital-contributing member, a governing or executive member, or an arbitrator of any other arbitral institution in Vietnam at the time of submitting the application for admission, and throughout the entire term of a VIAC's listed Arbitrator if admitted.

3. Commit to upholding and advancing the mission and objectives of VIAC in developing, improving, and implementing professional and efficient arbitral proceedings at VIAC by:

a. Actively and conscientiously participating in professional training programs, academic workshops and seminars, and skill camps organized by VIAC to continuously improve arbitral procedural knowledge and dispute resolution skills;

b. Actively participating in VIAC’s promotional, communication, and training activities;

c. Safeguarding the reputation and lawful interests of VIAC, and refraining from any conduct that may adversely affect VIAC’s reputation, image, or legitimate interests;

d. Making dedicated efforts to the development of VIAC and the advancement of arbitration and ADR in Vietnam.

4. Comply fully with the Code of Ethics for Arbitrators by VIAC as well as all internal regulations, guidelines, and policies of the Centre applicable to Arbitrators.

[1] VIAC shall publish the List of Arbitral Institutions or equivalent organizations recognized by VIAC.